Transfer News: Nottingham Forest Bolsters Attack with Kalimuendo Signing

Nottingham Forest signs Kalimuendo in £26m deal

Nottingham Forest signs French striker Arnaud Kalimuendo from Rennes in a £26m deal, boosting their attack for the new season.

Nottingham Forest has sealed the deal for French striker Arnaud Kalimuendo from Rennes on a five-year contract. The transfer fee is reportedly around £26 million, although the exact details weren't disclosed by the club. Kalimuendo joins Nottingham Forest after an impressive Ligue 1 campaign, where he scored 18 goals and provided four assists in 34 matches for Rennes.

Arnaud Kalimuendo is a Red! 🤩

— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) August 18, 2025

The 23-year-old striker has come through Paris St Germain's academy and previously played for Rennes, scoring 40 goals in 112 appearances. He was also part of the France squad that won silver at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Kalimuendo expressed his excitement about joining Nottingham Forest, stating, “This is a proud moment for me, joining a team who had a strong season last year and a club with great history. I'm ready for the challenge.”

Transfer Details:

• Transfer Fee: Approximately £26 million
• Contract Duration: Five years
• Previous Club: Rennes
• Notable Achievements: Silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, 18 goals and 4 assists in 34 matches for Rennes in the 2024-25 season

(1) New message. 📲🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/lzGqLIhuYP

— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) August 18, 2025

Nottingham Forest has spent around £147 million on seven signings in the transfer window, including Kalimuendo, James McAtee from Manchester City for £30 million, and Omari Hutchinson from Ipswich Town for £37.5 million. The club finished seventh last season and begins the new campaign with a Europa League match, marking their first European campaign since 1996.

Arnaud Kalimuendo's football journey began at Paris Saint-Germain's academy, where he developed his skills before embarking on two loan spells at Lens. During his time at Lens, he scored 21 goals in 65 appearances, showcasing his talent. In 2022, he joined Rennes, where he's made a significant impact, netting 40 goals in 112 appearances across all competitions.

Kalimuendo had an impressive 2024-25 season, scoring 18 goals and providing four assists in 34 matches for Rennes. His outstanding performance earned him a spot in the France squad that won silver at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

“Joining Nottingham Forest is a proud moment for me, joining a team who had a strong season last year and a club with great history,” Kalimuendo said, reflecting on his new chapter. Given his recent transfer to Nottingham Forest, Kalimuendo's enthusiasm for the team is palpable. With a market value of €21 million, he's expected to make a significant contribution to the team.

“I'm ready for the challenge, and I arrive here with good experience. I had a good season last year with goals and assists but I want more and want to reach a new level here.”

Nottingham Forest has made significant investments in the transfer window, with seven signings totaling around £147 million. Recent additions include French striker Arnaud Kalimuendo from Rennes for £26 million, midfielder James McAtee from Manchester City for £30 million, and winger Omari Hutchinson from Ipswich Town for £37.5 million. These signings aim to bolster Forest's squad for the Premier League and Europa League campaigns.

The club's strong start to the season, marked by a 3-1 win over Brentford, demonstrates the potential of their revamped squad. Forest finished seventh in the Premier League last season and is looking to build on that success while competing in their first European campaign since 1996. With these new signings, Forest is hopeful of making a significant impact in both competitions.